7.31.2009

Isn't the hair on this Keller NY model just heavenly? But believe you me...to get that messy, soft and tousled look, with a good bang sweep, is a whole lot harder than just waking up. After having the two littles my hair has become much more curly...or I should say "wavy" (used to be pretty much straight pre-kiddos). I like the idea of tousled hair but it is so hard to get it to look right. It either goes frizzy & poofy (too little product) or ramen noodle crunchy (too much product). The perfect balance is somewhere in between with the appropriate, magical product and styling combo. Gals with curls...give me some love. What products/styling tips do you suggest? And something a working mama could actually perform on a daily basis would be choice.

I've tried bumble and bumble too but I feel like it's too heavy (i have a lot of hair, but each one is very fine) I am a devout Tresemme Curling lotion addict. Then spray some hairspray at the roots and ends and scrunch for some extra volume. Just a little bit of spray though, you don't want crunchy hair! WORKS LIKE A CHARM.

I use Phyto 7 Daily Hydrating Cream and then follow it up with Pureology Real Curl. The latter is meant for color-treated hair, which I do not have, but it is one of the best products I have found. I agree with Soapygirl, apply to damp hair (not wet, or you will get the "crunchy" effect) and then fight the urge to touch!

P.S. Hi - my name is Erin and I've been reading your blogs for a few months now... really love your work!

Kiehl's Styling Creme or Living Proof No Frizz creme from Sephora, but I put it on around 15 minutes after I towel dry my hair. When I put it on right after the shower it doesn't work as well. Also, I twist the product on to ringlets of hair, using a dime-sized amount of product. Straightening iron for bangs...

I use a Pantene mousse with the strongest hold and put a lot in my hair so it has the crunchy feel. Then I dry it with a defuser. After it's dry, I turn my head over and scrunch my hair to get the crunchiness out.It gives me more spiral curls and helps with the frizziness and flyaway hairs.

Or if you're willing to pay a lot for hair products, Deva Curl is a godsend.

Best trick I ever learned to create soft, "informal" curls (aka the tousled look): Heat up a curling iron. Grab a little section of your hair (one-inch wide or so, or vary it from piece to piece) and wrap it around the outside of the barrel of the iron. Within minutes, you'll have a head-full of soft and really natural looking tousled curls.

Try different amounts of product in your hair before curling, as the curls hold much better if they have a little something in/on them before you do this. Also try twisting the sections of hair (winding them up like a corkscrew from the tips), before wrapping them around the outside of the iron. This will change the look of the curl. And voila!

p.s. I just taught my sister this trick a few days ago (literally). She also has two little ones, so mirror-time is limited. She was shocked at how easy this look was to achieve, and how quickly it transformed her hair into a dreamy new look. :)

I've had curls all my life and it took me about 25 years to find the right product for my hair. (And the right hair stylist and the right combo of tools/products to straighten my hair... but those are comments for another day.) I wash and dry my hair with super moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. When my hair is still wet but not dripping, I comb it and add Kerastase Crème Oléo-Curl. I twirl the strands with my fingers and blowdry on low heat with a diffuser. Perfect curls everytime. I also find it's best, is possible, to wash your hair every other day instead of daily. Good luck! :)

wow! so much advice. THis curl thing is a real problem. I just saw a commercial for an Herbal essences line dedicated to this eexact look. IT's supposed to hold the curl but keep it soft and tousled. Here's a link to check it out if you like.http://www.herbalessences.com/us/collections/tousle_me_softly/default.jsp

Mine was bone straight till I got layers last year. Now to get tousled waves I mousse my damp-ish hair and hand scrunch out the crunchiness. It doesn't corkscrew but I get a good wave. I love that I have a variety of easy styles now.

You and I have the exact same hair situation. Straight before kids. Then wavier with each child. Now it's a poufball most days. I'm hoping growing it out will weigh it down some, but from the responses, sounds like I'll have to invest in some high-end products!

thanks gals! I'm so excited to try some of these. liz in pdx - tried yours today and loved the results. I had to have a completely dry, wavy head of hair from the day before for it to work, but work it did and I'm happy!! thanks!

Mix Aveda's Be Curly curl cream with some gel (I use Pantene's curl gel, but if you want a more expensive gel Aveda's Brilliant is best) and scrunch. Also, I'm a huge fan of surf sprays, although mine was discontinued... :-(

Aveda Men Pure Performance Grooming Clay is my go to (recommended by my little hair man who says that women usually overlook men's products). My hair is neither thick or thin and the weight of this stuff is perfect. When it gets humid, I mix in just a dab of Aveda Be Curly Curl Control to tame the frizzies. I let it mostly air dry and then give it a quick zap on low heat with a diffuser to set.

bumble and bumble makes a great mouse and i love their prep spray to start. the moose is lighter than the other products (i.e. styling cream). i also find that products geared toward curly hair are too heavy for me (i have finer hair). they tend to be designed for thick, frizzy hair so i recommend that you stay away from those. good luck!

In california you can't out-run the frizz. However there are some cool tricks I've got- but my hair is very different than yours. you can come over and give my stuff a shot before you buy it though because it's expensive. Wash and condition: Matrix Ampliphymix two gels in your hand: Paul Mitchell- Super Sculpt, and Curly Sexy Hair- Curling Creme (once mixed together you scrunch it in :)

when you wash your hair, use nature-derived shampoo w/o SLS or detergents. just run the shampoo through your hair with your fingers from front to back over and over to build up a lather. mix some good conditioner with water and run it through hair in a similar fashion. let air dry, making sure to "shake out" upside down every few minutes and scrunch when possible. i don't use any product, but this makes my wavy hair that tends to be straightish more wavy

I have this exact hair- neither straight nor curly! I looked at the picture of what you want it to do and thought, "people want this?? i have this!!" I guess the grass is just always greener! :-)

These are my secrets:I have two favorites- first, I LOVE the Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray..Like the others who suggested this, I towel try, comb my hair and then spray my damp hair and leave it to air dry.

If I'm out of that, I go for Paul Mitchell Spray Wax..same deal- spray it on damp hair, run out the door and let it air dry. I actually think the Spray Wax does a better job of defining curls than the Bumble and Bumble. I guess the B+B is more of a sexy tousled look. Both are a little pricey ($20+). Also, Redken Water Wax is good, but you have to stick your hands in it, whereas the others are spray on.

And lastly, I just found that Garnier Fructis makes a similar product called Wonder Waves - for a quarter of the cost ($4!). It isn't my first choice, but it does the trick! Hope this helps!!

I am a huge fan of natural sulfate and silicone free products. (All the deva-curl products are sufate and silicone free) If your hair is just slightly wavy, going 'no-poo' makes the curl really come out. Warning...the first couple of weeks while your scalp gets used to your new routine you may have to deal with some nastiness but soooo worth it.